Photo By Melanie Casineau | U.S. Air National Guard 1st Lieutenant Sara Kolinski, 104th Fighter Wing Medical...... read more read more
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BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Westfield, Mass. —I joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing in 2017, right out of high school, following my older brother's path. I knew I wanted to work in medicine, but I wasn’t sure exactly how. My initial plan was to gain experience with the medical group while figuring things out. When the positions I hoped for weren’t available, my recruiter suggested Public Affairs. It wasn’t where I saw myself, but the chance to document the full spectrum of military life through a camera lens intrigued me, so I gave it a shot.
As a Public Affairs specialist, I truly got a front-row seat to all aspects of the mission; pilots training for water survival, explosive ordnance disposal drills, live-fire exercises, and even real-world missions like the COVID-19 response. Around that time, I became an EMT and committed to pursuing a career as a physician assistant (PA). While earning my health sciences degree, I shadowed providers and volunteered to strengthen my PA school applications.
At the 104th Fighter Wing, education is not just encouraged, it’s expected. With some of the nation’s top schools nearby and military benefits available to help cover costs, it made sense to take full advantage. As graduation approached, the question started coming up more and more: “Are you going to commission?” At first, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t see myself in a typical desk-bound officer role. I thrived in the field, talking with people, staying hands-on. But the more time I spent with providers in the medical group, the more I saw how commissioning as a PA would allow me to stay grounded in those values while advancing both as a clinician and an officer.
Rather than going the more common IPAP route, I attended a civilian PA program using state tuition benefits and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. I graduated in December 2023, was certified the following month, and started working as an emergency medicine PA-C in a civilian hospital. I also began the process of directly commissioning into the Medical Group, something less common and not as widely understood as commissioning into a line officer role.
The process was lengthy and started with credentialing, where all my licenses, education, and clinical experience were verified. Only after clearing that step could I submit my officer package, which had to make its way up to the National Guard Bureau for final approval, similar to the process for line officer commissioning. When I finally got the call from MSgt. Glenda Schuster with the good news, we immediately began planning my commissioning ceremony.
Being commissioned at Barnes was an incredibly meaningful milestone. Lt Col Patrick LaFond, a fellow PA-C and mentor, administered my oath. My brother, TSgt. Victor Kolinski, delivered my first salute. Surrounded by family, mentors, and colleagues, I felt both the pride of what I had accomplished and the excitement of what was still ahead.
Now, as a First Lieutenant and PA-C, I’m stepping into a new chapter. There are still steps to go, additional credentialing and Officer Training School, but I’ve achieved a long-standing goal. I’m proud of the journey so far and energized by the opportunity to keep learning, serving, and growing in this next phase of my military and medical career.
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2025 12:26 |
| Story ID: | 499730 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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